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Rab'k watched the small battle from a distance. He and his men had just ridden over a rise when they saw the thieves' encampment and were proceeding with caution.
Suddenly, one of the young men, tall and sinewy, broke free of his bonds and tossed his guard some twenty feet through the air. With hair flying in the wind, the boy threw himself toward the leader of the group.
Several of Rab'k's men were expressing their admiration for such a demonstration of power with a few comments. Jond'r, and then Rab'k, stared back at them. The men stopped talking and sat silently again.
Rab'k, turning back to watch the boys below, couldn't refrain from admiring the feat himself.
The young man then demonstrated remarkable abilities with the sword he snatched from the leader's scabbard and showed no qualms about using it on the man he now held in the air. He obviously was threatening the man's life.
The gang members stopped with indecision and felt the attack of the other young man who had also broken free. It was soon over.
Some of the thieves scurried across the prairie; the leader limped away in another direction. Several still lay unconscious on the ground.
Rab'k pointed his finger at the leader and one of his men galloped off in pursuit. No command was given but the leader of the robber band was not to remember this day.
"Come," Rab'k commanded, watching while the boys gathered their things and walked away from the scene and up the road. His group trotted down to the encampment, stopping as they searched the grounds for anything of importance. Finding nothing, they woke the thieves lying unconscious.
"Who were those two boys?" Rab'k asked, glaring at the three men cowering before him.
"We don't know, sire. They were just boys we grabbed because we thought they might have money, but they had none. Our leader was going to kill them, but something terrible happened and we don't remember now," one of them spoke, trembling.
"Kill them," Rab'k commanded, not looking back as he rode off in the direction the boys had taken.
His men remounted after they dispatched the robbers and quickly returned to the original group following Rab'k.
A short time later, Rab'k and his men caught the young men. Geth'n and Pet'r scrambled off the road when they heard the troop approaching, moved away to a safe distance and turned to face these new attackers.
Rab'k halted his men on the road and looking over at the boys. "Where are you going?" he shouted, sitting tall on his horse.
"We are simple travelers going to Tariny," Geth'n answered. He realized Pet'r quickly reverted to the warrior he was only a short time ago; his stance was taut and menacing.
Geth'n also understood these men should not be taken lightly and a bit of talk might preserve the day. "We don't want any trouble, sire," he added.
"And I intend you none. Perhaps you would like to travel with us, we are headed to Varspree ourselves," Rab'k proposed, liking the boys for their bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. His supplication was strangely truthful.
"Thank you, sire. We actually would prefer to walk," Geth'n responded, relaxing somewhat. He felt he and Pet'r were in no immediate danger from this man.
"We are on a pilgrimage and one is supposed to suffer a bit from such a journey, as we understand."
Rab'k laughed. "You boys seem to be able to take care of your 'suffering' very well," he added, motioning with his hand back toward the small battleground. Several of his troop chuckled. Rab'k's man who chased down the leader of the bandits rode up, reined in, and handed the leader's sword belt to Rab'k.
"Have it your way. I believe you should have no more trouble from those men. A safe journey to you." Raising his hand, Rab'k tossed the bandit leader's money pouch at Geth'n's feet, turned his horse and galloped away over the next rise with his men in pursuit.
Geth'n watched as they left then turned to his friend whose eyes were still glazed.
"Pet'r! Pet'r! Wake up." Geth'n held Pet'r's arm. Pet'r shook his head and stared blankly at Geth'n.
"What happened? Where are those men?" Pet'r was confused and seemed to find it difficult to remember what had occurred.
"They've gone," Geth'n said slowly, realizing his friend had shown again this new and strange personality. "I believe we should be more aware and stay hidden, at least at night, for the remainder of our trip. There is too much danger about and we might not be so fortunate again."
He frowned looking again up the road where the small troop had disappeared, wondering about the man in black who had just shown them a respectful kindness.
Who could that have been?
He reached over, picked the pouch up and placed it deep in the folds of his robe.
"We probably are going to need this now," he added, looking around to see if any more danger was riding their way.
He saw no one.
Satisfied, he took Pet'r's arm, pulled him back to the road, turned toward Varspree.
"Let's continue our journey, my friend."
DECEPTION